Skye Edwards was so sick when she was born, her devastated parents were told to take photographs to remember her by as she only had a few hours to live.

But now little Skye is well on the road to recovery and her mother Gemma has praised the NHS workers who battled to save her daughter's life.

The 16-week-old was so ill following a mystery complication in the womb that her parents were told if she had arrived three hours later she would have been stillborn.

Skye was covered in bruises, a rash and had severe heart, lung and blood problems following birth in April this year.

The tiny newborn’s organs began to shut down and her bone marrow production was “suppressed to the point of failure”, leaving her with a high risk of internal bleeding.

Miracle: Had she arrived three hours later she would have been stillborn (Image: Michael Traill)

The hospital chaplain was called to pray for her and friends and family rushed to see her for what they thought was the first and last time.

But doctors battled to stabilise her enough so she could be flown the 170 miles from Raigmore Hospital in Inverness to Yorkhill Children's Hospital in Glasgow by private jet.

At just 36 hours old she was placed into a drug-induced coma to allow doctors “to take back control of her body”.

Mrs Edwards held her baby for the first time, while she was in the coma.

She told the Aberdeen Press and Journal: “I was just in pieces. [In Raigmore] her heart was racing out of control and she was not breathing properly.

"But I remember when I waved her away [in the air ambulance] I thought if that’s the last moment we spend together as a family, it was a nice moment.

“She was wide-eyed and looked scared. But she always knew who her mum and dad were.”

Skye was kept in a coma for two days and spent a week on a ventilator in the neonatal intensive care unit, before she was flown back to Raigmore.

During that time her parents stayed in the nearby Ronald McDonald's House which offers parents somewhere to stay so they can be near their sick children.

Bouncing: Against all odds, Skye made a full recovery (Image: Michael Traill)

After two days in a coma and a week on a ventilator she was flown back to Raigmore hospital.

The couple received the welcome news that Skye was on the mend two weeks ago, after a sample of bone marrow was taken under general anaesthetic.

Now, after a total of five platelet transfusions and two blood transfusions, Skye’s bone marrow is working as it should and her platelet level is currently at 130, and rising.

They are still waiting to hear the result of one final bone marrow test but doctors have said they are confident there will be no lasting health issues.

Mrs Edwards, who had to go through counselling to get her through the trauma of what was happening to Skye, set up a Facebook page Prayforabetterskye to chart her daughter's journey to health.

Writing on the page, she said her daughter's life was only saved because she had a rare condition which meant her pelvis was blocked with extra bone, meaning she had to give birth by Caesarian section.

Airlift: At just a day old she had to be flown 170 miles and placed into a drug-induced coma (Image: Michael Traill)

She said: "Having an elective c-section due to an impassible birth canal saved her life, a few hours later and she would have been stillborn.

"Due to the trauma (cause unknown) everything in her was, and excuse my language here but I can't think of a better word to describe it other than f**ked.

"All her internal organs were always normal, although most were failing in the dark days.

"Whatever trauma happened just before birth suppressed her bone marrow to the point it failed too, her platelets were at 7, capable of being normal and her haemoglobin was at 66, capable of being normal.

"Well done NHS....Well done platelet people and blood buddies....Thanks to you all major organs were back on track by the time she flew back to Raigmore and I flew back with her."

Battle: Skye was born unable to produce her own platelets, but she managed to start making them (Image: Michael Traill)

She praised the doctors who battled to save Skye, using the hashtag #ImInWorkJeremy in reference to health workers who reminded the health secretary the NHS was not just a Monday to Friday service.

She said: "Skye IS better, not dead in a grave like she could have been.

"My little miracle star will be living among you, growing up. And the #nhsawesomeness stars for our Skye, will continue to just live their lives saving other Skyes and her buddies (everyday ‪#‎iminworkJeremy‬, they didn't just stop Skye's treatment at the weekend!!)"

She also thanked everyone who followed Skye's story on social media and paid for her recovery.

Mrs Edwards and her husband Craig have already raised more than £3,200 for the Ronald McDonald House in a bid to help other families, who have to stay miles from home to be with their sick children.

She said: "Ronald MacDonald house has been a lifeline for our family. I know first hand how it is helping others in similar and more extreme situations to ourselves."

Family: Craig and Gemma have been reunited with their baby (Image: Michael Traill)